Arch Enemy Shook San Diego
Mother nature must have known that Swedish death metal band Arch Enemy was kicking off their North American Blood Dynasty 2025 tour on Monday, April 14, in San Diego. She certainly knew how to welcome them with a 5.2 earthquake in San Diego County that morning. Could it have been a foreshock, with Arch Enemy and the three support bands providing their own jolt and dose of excitement when they hit the stage later that evening? That’s what I was hoping for, and the answer was most definitely yes. They shook us all night long.
Tour busses were lined up outside the venue and the line snaked around the building prior to doors opening, with concert-goers donning black t-shirts, hats, and battle jackets representing their favorite metal bands. It was confirmation I made it to the right place. The metal fans were buzzing about previous shows, speculating on what was to come, and sharing their concert experiences. This was my first time to experience Arch Enemy live, and I felt very lucky to be at the Observatory North Park San Diego at the very first show of this leg of the tour. It is a beautiful venue with historic charm, and I will definitely be back for more shows. The opening bands were Thrown Into Exile, Baest, and Fit for an Autopsy, and it was no surprise that fans lined up early for these heavy hitters. Each band came in with a ton of energy and talent, immediately firing up the crowd. Moshers and crowd surfers were a continuous sight.
Los Angeles-based metalcore band Thrown Into Exile started the night with force. Heavy vocals from Evan Seidlitz were powerful and immediately welcomed by the audience. The band stated that they were appreciative of those that came early to see them. They were a great choice as an opener and it was exciting that they began the tour in their home state.
Next up was Baest, a death metal band that hails from Denmark (“the land of the flags,” as vocalist Simon Olson said). Baest’s talented and animated musicians were enjoyable to see and I was hooked from the first song. They are not to be missed.
Fit for an Autopsy, a deathcore metal group from New Jersey was next. Joe Badolato’s growls and screams hit hard and his vocals draw you in. The last song they played was “Far From Heaven,” which was a fan favorite. The rowdy crowd showed their admiration by chanting “one more song” at the end of the set. Strong lighting effects added to dynamism of the songs.
It was time for the headliner to take the stage. The audience was primed and ready for what was to come. Michael Amott and Joey Concepcion (guitars), Sharlee D’Angelo (bass), and Daniel Erlandsson (drums) settled in quickly on the stage, and then Alissa White-Gluz entered to an enthusiastic welcome. Arch Enemy was here and ready to shred!
The band sounds excellent and makes what they do look easy because of how cohesive they are while providing a sharp, powerful impact and a very entertaining experience. From beginning to end, the set was spectacular. Alissa’s stage presence is unmatched. She commands attention and her vocals (both gutteral and clean) are remarkably good. There was a circle pit in motion throughout the entire set and the dramatic stage lighting elevated the experience. At one point, White-Gluz asked the audience to sing along to Amott’s guitar and everyone obeyed by belting out the sounds.
The set consisted of a whopping 19 songs. It was a thrill to hear four songs (“Dream Stealer,” “Blood Dynasty,” “A Million Suns,” and “Liars & Thieves”) live for the first time from the new Blood Dynasty album that was released on March 28, 2025.
The screams, growls, strong vocals, and mayhem are ingrained in my soul now after witnessing the four bands bring their best and leave it all on stage. It was an invigorating concert, and Arch Enemy was definitely the final jolt that shook San Diego that day!
